Game Environment to Interact with Telephony Modem

ABSTRACT

A combination telephony and game device comprises a telephony modem for communicating with remote devices over a telephony network; and an application processor operatively connected to said telephony modem. The application processor is configured to execute a game application to play a game; receive a telephony event notification from said telephony modem while the game is being played; and represent, while the game is being played, the telephony event in a virtual reality environment provided by the game application.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to game applications for mobile communications devices and, more particularly, to game applications that enable users to perform telephony functions without exiting the game.

Mobile communication devices have evolved from simple phones used primarily for voice communications to devices that integrate both voice and data communications with computing technology. Mobile communication devices now include powerful processors that can run many common software applications. Users can now perform a multitude of computing tasks with their mobile communications devices such as sending and receiving emails, managing calendars and contacts, browsing the web, and chatting with friends. Many users also use their mobile communication devices for gaming and entertainment applications.

Although it is common to use a mobile communication device as a gaming device, the game applications developed in the past do not take full advantage of the communication capabilities of the mobile communication device. For on-line gaming, a game application may use the communication capability of the mobile communication device to transmit and receive game data. Thus, the communications functions are typically used simply as a pipeline for game data transfer.

SUMMARY

The present invention relates to a mobile communication device that is used also as a game device and that provides greater integration between gaming and telephony functions of the mobile communication device. The mobile communication device is operable in a phone mode to make and receive voice calls, and in a game mode for playing games installed on the mobile communication device. A virtual reality game is stored in memory of the mobile communication device. The virtual reality game creates an artificial world having virtual objects or characters that can be controlled by the user to play a virtual reality game. The game application includes a telephony application interface (telephony API) that enables the virtual reality game to incorporate real-world telephony events into the virtual reality game and allows a game player to perform real-world telephony functions from within the context of the virtual reality game.

Exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a combination telephony and game device. One exemplary device comprises a telephony modem for communicating with remote parties over a telephony network; and an application processor operatively connected to said telephony modem. The application processor is configured to execute a game application to play a game, receive a telephony event notification from said telephony modem while the game is being played, and represent, while the game is being played, the telephony event in a virtual reality environment provided by the game application.

In some embodiments, the application processor is further configured to receive a game control input from a user; control game events within said virtual reality environment responsive to said game control input; and translate game events into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem to perform a telephony function.

In some embodiments, the telephony event comprises an incoming call from a remote party and the application processor is configured to translate the game control input into a call control signal for handling the incoming call.

In some embodiments, the application processor is configured to translate game control inputs into a call control signal for initiating an outgoing call to a remote party.

In some embodiments, the application processor is configured to control a game character in the virtual reality environment responsive to said game control input.

In some embodiments, the application processor is configured to translate actions of said game character into telephony commands for performing a telephony function with said telephony modem.

In some embodiments, the application processor is configured to represent the telephony event as an interactive game object in the virtual reality environment.

In some embodiments, the application processor is further configured to receive a game control input from a user; and control a game character responsive to said user input to interact with said interactive game object.

In some embodiments, the application processor is configured to translate interactions between said game character and said interactive game object into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem to perform a telephony function.

In some embodiments, the application processor is configured to control a game character in said virtual reality environment responsive to user input to perform a telephony function with said telephony modem.

In some embodiments, the application processor is configured to determine an event type for said telephony event and to represent said telephony event in said virtual reality environment based on said event type.

In some embodiments the telephony event comprises an incoming call and the application processor is configured to determine an identity of the calling party, and to represent said telephony event in said virtual reality environment based on said identity of said calling party.

Other embodiments of the invention comprise a method of enabling telephone functions while playing a game. One exemplary method comprises receiving a telephony event notification from a telephony modem while a game is being played; and representing, while the game is being played, the telephony event in a virtual reality environment provided by the gaming application.

In some embodiments of the method, the method further comprises receiving a game control input from a user; controlling game events within said virtual reality environment responsive to said game control input; and translating game events into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem to perform a telephony function.

In some embodiments of the method, the telephony event comprises an incoming call from a remote party and translating game events into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem to perform a telephony function comprises translating the game events into a call control signal for handling the incoming call.

In some embodiments of the method, translating game events into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem to perform a telephony function translating the game events into a call control signal for initiating an outgoing call to a remote party.

In some embodiments of the method, controlling a game event within said virtual reality environment responsive to said game control input comprises controlling a game character responsive in the virtual reality environment.

In some embodiments of the method, translating game events input into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem comprises translating actions of said a game character into telephony commands for performing a telephony function with said telephony modem.

In some embodiments of the method, representing the telephony event in a virtual reality environment comprises visually representing the telephony event as an interactive game object in the virtual reality environment.

Some embodiments of the method further comprise receiving a game control input from a user; and controlling a game character responsive to said user input to interact with said interactive game object.

Some embodiments of the method further comprising translating interactions between said game character and said interactive game object in said virtual reality environment into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem.

Some embodiments of the method further comprising controlling a game character in said virtual reality environment responsive to user input to perform a telephony function with said telephony modem.

In some embodiments, the method further comprises determining an event type for said telephony event; and representing said telephony event in said virtual reality environment based on said event type.

In some embodiments, the telephony event comprises an incoming message and the method further comprises determining an identity of the calling party; and representing said telephony event in said virtual reality environment based on said identity of said calling party.

Other embodiments of the invention comprise a game device comprising a communication interface for communicating with remote devices over a communication network; and an application processor operatively connected to said communication interface. The application processor is configured to execute a game application to play a game; and receive an incoming message while the game is being played from a party not involved in said game; and represent, while the game is being played, the incoming message in a virtual reality environment provided by the game application.

Other embodiments to the invention comprise a method implemented by a game application on a host device for providing message notifications to game players. One such method comprises receiving a message notification while a game is being played, said message notification relating to a message from a party other than a game player; and representing, while the game is being played, incoming message in a virtual reality environment provided by the gaming application.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary mobile communication device.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary software architecture of the mobile communicating device.

FIG. 3 illustrates a method implemented by the mobile communication device for incorporating telephony events and functions into a virtual reality game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a mobile communication device that is usable as a game device The mobile communication device is operable in a phone mode for making and receiving phone calls, and in a game mode for playing games installed in the mobile communication device. A virtual reality game is stored in memory of the mobile communication device. The virtual reality game creates a computer-simulated or artificial world having objects or characters that can be controlled by the user to play a virtual reality game. The simulated world (excluding game menus and other game interface objects not part of the simulated world) is referred to herein as a virtual reality environment. The game application includes a telephony application interface (telephony API) that enables the virtual reality game to respond to real-world telephony events and allows a game player to perform real-world telephony functions from within the context of the virtual reality game.

The game application receives telephony event notifications via the telephony API in response to real-world telephony events. As used herein, the term telephony event includes call events (e.g., incoming and outgoing calls), mobility events (e.g., handovers), registration and access events, power on/off events, and other events that occur in telephony networks. The game application represents the real-world telephony event (e.g., incoming telephone call) described in the notification in the virtual reality environment created by the game application. The user may also control the telephony modem to perform a telephony function in the real world from within the context of the virtual reality environment. As one example, a virtual object, such as a phone booth, may appear in the virtual reality environment in response to the incoming call in the real world. The user may direct a game character controlled by the user into a virtual phone booth to answer the incoming call or to initiate an outgoing call. Thus, the virtual reality environment serves, in effect, as a graphical user interface for interaction with the telephony modem while the game is being played. There is no need to exit the game while the user performs a telephony function.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary mobile communication device 10 according to one embodiment of the present invention. The mobile communication device 10 may comprise, for example, a mobile telephone, smart phone, personal digital assistant, laptop computer, or other mobile communication device with phone capabilities. The mobile communication device 10 comprises a telephony modem 20, processing circuit 30, memory 40, and user interface 50. The telephony modem 20 may comprise, for example, a cellular modem, for communicating over a cellular network. The cellular modem 20 may operate according to known communication standards, such as Wideband Co-division Multiple Access (WCDMA), Long Term Evolution (LTE), WiMAX, or other standards now known or later developed.

The processing circuit 30 comprises one or more programmable processors, which may comprise microprocessors, microcontrollers, hardware, or a combination thereof. The processing circuit 30 executes application programs stored in memory 40. The processing circuit 30 receives user input from the user input devices 54 and outputs information to display 52 for viewing by the user. The processing circuit 30 connects to the telephony modem 20 for transmitting and receiving data over communication networks.

Memory 40 stores application programs and data needed by the processing circuit 30 for operation. Memory 40 may comprise one or more memory devices. Memory 40 includes internal memory in the processors and well as external memory devices such as random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). Typically, the application programs stored in memory include an operating system program 60 (FIG. 2) and one or more user applications, such as a game application 62 and telephony application 64.

The user interface 50 enables the user to interact with the mobile communication device 10. The user interface 50 comprises a display 52 to output information to the user for viewing, and one or more input devices 54 to receive user input from a user. The display 52 may comprise touchscreen display that also functions as a user input device 54. Typically user input devices include a keypad, touch pad, accelerometer, and voice activation.

In the exemplary embodiment, memory 40 stores one or more game applications for playing games with the mobile communication device 10 and one or more a telephony applications for performing telephony functions. The memory 40 could store other applications, such as business applications (e.g., email programs, calendars, word processing programs, spreadsheets, etc.), consumer applications (e.g., chat or instant messaging applications, photo applications, music applications, etc.), and other application programs.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary software architecture for a mobile communication device 10. The operating system program 60 stored in memory manages the sharing of system resources and manages details of hardware operation. The operating system program 60 offers services through an application programming interface (API) or system calls to user applications. This architecture frees the application program developers from having to manage system hardware. Two user applications are shown in the exemplary embodiment: a game application 62 and a telephony application 64 (e.g., phone dialer). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a mobile communication device 10 would typically include many applications.

The operating system program 60 handles interactions with the telephony modem 20, processing circuits 30, memory 40, and user interface 50 for the game application 62 and telephony application 64. The telephony modem 20 provides telephony event notifications to the operating system program 60 which may pass the notifications to either the telephony application 64 or game application 62, or both. Similarly, user input events are passed by the operating system program 60 to the game application 62 and telephony application 64. When the game application 62 and telephony application 64 are installed on the mobile communication device 10, the applications 62, 64 register with the operating system program 60 so that the operating system program 60 will know how to route the telephony event notifications and user interface events.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary method 100 implemented by a game application 62 according to one embodiment. The method 100 begins when the game application 62 receives a telephony event notification from the telephony modem 20 (block 102). The telephony event notification relates to a telephony event external to outside the context of the game. For example, the telephony event may comprise an incoming call or incoming message from someone other than another gamer. As previously noted, the telephony event notification may be initially received by the operating system program 60 and passed to the game application 62. In response to the telephony event notification, the game application 62 represents the telephony event in the virtual reality environment. The representation of the telephony event may take many different forms. For example, the telephony event may be represented by a game object (e.g., virtual phone booth) that appears in the virtual reality environment in response to the telephony event. The game object may comprise an interactive game object that is used to perform telephony functions from within the context of the virtual reality environment. A game character controlled by the game player can interact with the interactive game object to perform a telephony function. As an example, a weather event (e.g., tornado, rain, etc.) may begin in the virtual reality environment in response to the telephony event. This weather event may be a function of both telephony event (incoming call) and more specific information related to the telephony event (for example caller ID). The weather could, for example worsen, if this is a second or third incoming call from the same person. Also, different types of weather events could indicate incoming calls from different persons. Virtually any condition of the virtual reality environment may be used to represent the telephony event. Also, a user may have the capability to set user preferences associating particular telephony events with particular game events.

In response to the telephony event, the user may choose to ignore the event, or to take some action in response to the event. The game application 62 monitors for user input (block 106). The user input events may be responsive to a telephony event, or may be at the user's own initiative. The game application 62 processes the user input and controls events within the virtual reality environment responsive to the user input (block 108). In some cases, a user input controlling an event within the virtual reality environment may have a corresponding telephony function. In cases where the game event has a corresponding telephony function, the game application 62 generates corresponding telephony commands for controlling the telephony modem, and outputs the telephony commands via the telephony API to the telephony modem to perform the telephony function (block 110). Thus, the user is able to perform telephony functions from within the virtual game environment without having to exit the game. In effect, the virtual game environment provided by the game application becomes a user interface for performing telephony operations.

To facilitate understanding of the present invention, a few examples of how a virtual reality environment can be used to perform telephony operations will be described.

Example 1

A user of the mobile communication device 10 launches a game application to begin playing a game. During the course of the game, the mobile communication device 10 receives an incoming call from a friend. The game application receives a telephony event notification from the telephony modem indicating the type of the event and providing information about the event. The information may include, for example, a caller ID number or other information about the caller. The game application generates a telephone booth in the virtual reality environment in response to the incoming call to indicate that a call has been received. The user directs a character under the user's control into the virtual phone booth to answer the call. The virtual phone booth may include a virtual phone or other call control features for answering the call. To end the call, the user directs his character to exit the phone booth. If the user is involved in an on-line, multi-player game, the game application may send a status update to the other players indicating that the player responding to the telephony event is currently inactive. Alternatively, the status update may indicate that the user has left the game although the game is not exited on the user's device. When the call ends, the game application may send a status update indicating that the user has returned or is now active in the game.

Example 2

The user launches a game application on the mobile communication device 10. While playing the game, the user decides to place a call to the user's friend. In order to place the call, the user directs his or her game character into a phone booth in the virtual reality environment. The user directs his or her character to interact with a virtual telephone in the virtual telephone booth to initiate an out-going telephone call. When the call is complete, the user directs his or her character to hang up the virtual telephone or to exit the virtual phone booth. The game application translates the interactions between the game character and the virtual telephone into telephony commands for controlling the telephony modem.

In the above examples, a virtual object appears in the virtual reality environment in response to telephony events. However, the telephony event may be represented by any change in the virtual reality environment. As noted above, virtual objects may appear responsive to the telephony event, new characters may appear responsive to the telephony event, existing objects in the virtual reality world may change in appearance, sounds emanating from distant objects in the virtual reality environment may be heard, and tactile feedback representing virtual events (e.g., earthquakes) may be felt.

Any kind or type of event in the telephony network may be used to trigger corresponding game events or changes in the virtual reality environment being provided by the game. The most common events may be call events, such as an incoming call, receipt of a busy signal, the forwarding of a call. However, other types of telephony events may also be used to trigger game events. For example, mobility events such as a handover or change in roaming status can trigger a game event to provide notice to the user. Other telephony events may include registration events, power on/off events, etc.

Although an exemplary embodiment of the invention has been described specifically for game devices that also function as telephony devices, the concepts of the present invention can be easily extended to other messaging applications, such as email, SMS, instant messaging, and presence updates. In general, the game application can be configured to represent any type of incoming message within the virtual reality environment to enable the game player to read or respond to the incoming message without exiting the game. As one example, an incoming email or text message might be represented in the context of the game as a message displayed on a billboard.

The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the scope and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A combination telephony and game device comprising: a telephony modem for communicating with remote devices over a telephony network; and an application processor operatively connected to said telephony modem and configured to: execute a game application to play a game; receive a telephony event notification from said telephony modem while the game is being played, said telephony event notification relating to a telephony event external to said game; and represent, while the game is being played, the telephony event in a virtual reality environment provided by the game application.
 2. The combination telephony and game device of claim 1 wherein the application processor is further configured to: receive a game control input from a user; control game events within said virtual reality environment responsive to said game control input; and translate game events into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem to perform a telephony function.
 3. The combination telephony and game device of claim 2 wherein said telephony event comprises an incoming call from a remote party and wherein the application processor is configured to translate game events into a call control signal for handling the incoming call.
 4. The combination telephony and game device of claim 2 wherein the application processor is configured to translate game events into a call control signal for initiating an outgoing call to a remote party.
 5. The combination telephony and game device of claim 2 wherein the application processor is configured to control a game character in the virtual reality environment responsive to said game control input.
 6. The combination telephony and game device of claim 5 wherein the application processor is configured to translate actions of said game character into telephony commands for performing a telephony function with said telephony modem.
 7. The combination telephony and game device of claim 2 wherein the application processor is configured to represent the telephony event as an interactive game object in the virtual reality environment.
 8. The combination telephony and game device of claim 7 wherein the application processor is further configured to: receive a game control input from a user; and control a game character responsive to said user input to interact with said interactive game object.
 9. The combination telephony and game device of claim 8 wherein the application processor is configured to translate interactions between said game character and said interactive game object into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem to perform a telephony function.
 10. The combination telephony and game device of claim 2 wherein the application processor is configured to control a game character in said virtual reality environment responsive to user input to perform a telephony function with said telephony modem.
 11. The combination telephony and game device wherein the application processor is configured to: determine an event type for said telephony event; and represent said telephony event in said virtual reality environment based on said event type.
 12. The combination telephony and game device wherein the telephony event comprises an incoming call and wherein the application processor is configured to: determine an identity of the calling party; and represent said telephony event in said virtual reality environment based on said identity of said calling party.
 13. A method implemented by a game application on a mobile communication device, said method comprising: receiving a telephony event notification from a telephony modem while a game is being played, said telephony event notification relating to a telephony event external to said game; and representing, while the game is being played, the telephony event in a virtual reality environment provided by the gaming application.
 14. The method of claim 13 further comprising: receiving a game control input from a user; controlling game events within said virtual reality environment responsive to said game control input; and translating game events into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem to perform a telephony function.
 15. The method of claim 14 wherein said telephony event comprises an incoming call from a remote party and wherein translating game events into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem to perform a telephony function comprises translating the game event into a call control signal for handling the incoming call.
 16. The combination telephony and game device of claim 14 wherein translating game events into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem to perform a telephony function comprises translating the game event into a call control signal for initiating an outgoing call to a remote party.
 17. The method of claim 14 wherein controlling a game event within said virtual reality environment responsive to said game control input comprises controlling a game character responsive in the virtual reality environment.
 18. The method of claim 17 wherein translating said game control input into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem comprises translating game control commands controlling actions of said game character into telephony commands for performing a telephony function with said telephony modem.
 19. The method of claim 13 wherein representing the telephony event in a virtual reality environment comprises visually representing the telephony event as an interactive game object in the virtual reality environment.
 20. The method of claim 19 further comprising: receiving a game control input from a user; and controlling a game character responsive to said user input to interact with said interactive game object.
 21. The method of claim 20 further comprising translating interactions between said game character and said interactive game object in said virtual reality environment into telephony commands for controlling said telephony modem.
 22. The method of claim 13 further comprising controlling a game character in said virtual reality environment responsive to user input to perform a telephony function with said telephony modem.
 23. The method of claim 13 further comprising: determining an event type for said telephony event; and representing said telephony event in said virtual reality environment based on said event type.
 24. The method of claim 13 wherein the telephony event comprises an incoming message and further comprising: determining an identity of the calling party; and representing said telephony event in said virtual reality environment based on said identity of said calling party.
 25. A game device comprising: a communication interface for communicating with remote devices over a communication network; and an application processor operatively connected to said communication interface and configured to: execute a game application to play a game; receive an incoming message while the game is being played from a party not involved in said game; and represent, while the game is being played, the incoming message in a virtual reality environment provided by the game application.
 26. A method implemented by a game application on a host device, said method comprising: receiving a message notification while a game is being played, said message notification relating to a message from a party other than a game player; and representing, while the game is being played, incoming message in a virtual reality environment provided by the gaming application. 